Body-exerciser.



J. SINGER.

BODY EXERGISER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1909.

992,272. Patented May 16, 1911 THE MORRIS PETERS cO-. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITE STATS PAE T @FFICE.

JOSEPH SINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BODY-EXERCISER.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr SINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Body-Exercisers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a spring exercising machine adapted to be adjustedto regulate the tension and also to accommodate the mechanism to the body proportions of the user.

The object of the invention is to so construct the device as a whole that the plat form to which the springs are secured when in use may also be utilized as a box or receptacle within which the springs may be housed in a neat and compact form.

A further object of the invention relates particularly to the method of securing the springs to the box platform; to the means provided for regulating the height of the handles; to the method of adjusting the straps which are secured to the springs; to-

the means provided for increasing or regulating the spring tension; and to the device as a whole and the individual parts thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device as a whole in operative position, showing the shoulder straps partly broken away; Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view, showing the springs broken away; Fig. 3 a sectional detail of the upper end of one of the springs, showing the end rod and adjustable handle rod; Fig. 4: a section taken on line H of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 a sectional View of a clamp for throwing a portion of the spring coils out of commission and thereby regulating the tension of the spring as a whole.

The exerciser as a whole is mounted upon a relatively low box platform 6, which comprises a top 7, a floor 8, ends 9, and sides 10 and 11 respectively. The box platform as a whole is of the general shape of a dress suit case and furnishes a neat, handy receptacle within which to store the spring mechanism to be hereinafter described; and in order to facilitate transportation of the box platform the floor 8 is secured to the body of the box platform by means of hinges 12 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1909.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Serial No. 517,292.

cooperating latches 13, or in any other suitable manner, which permits this portion of the box platform to be turned back or bodily removed in order to secure access to the interior. A handle 1 1 is also provided, which permits the box platform to be carried in the manner of a dress suit case.

The top of the platform is provided with end holes 15 and a front hole 16. The end holes furnish sockets for the attachment of a pair of companion main side springs 17, and the front hole furnishes a socket for the attachment of a main front spring 18.

In the body exercises the two side springs will be used in unison, or these springs can be discarded and removed and the center spring used alone, depending upon the nature of the exercises desired. Each of the springs is mounted upon a base plug 19 which preferably comprises a stem 20, terminating in a reduced stud 21, which stem and stud are of cylindrical formation and are provided, on the outside, with threads 22. The threads on the enlarged stem permit the main springs to be screwed thereon, and the threads on the reduced stud afford means for the attachment of inner springs 23, which may be used or discarded as desired, depending on the amount of spring tension sought to be secured. Each of the base plugs is further provided, on each side, with a hook 24, which hooks permit the addition of outer supplemental springs 25, two of which are shown as attached to the front spring mechanism, although it is obvious that the main side springs can be likewise provided with supplemental outer springs if desired. Each of the base plugs is further provided with a depending tongue 26, which is entered through the intended socket hole in the top of the box platform, and is held against removal by the insertion therethrough of a pin 27, which mode of attachment of the springs to the box platform permits of their being easily set up or taken down as oocasion may require. Each of the main springs 17 is closed, at its upper end, with an upper plug .28 of cylindrical formation, provided with a reduced depending stud 29, which plug and stud are threaded on their exteriors to afford means of attachment for the outer and inner springs, respectively. The plug is of tubular formation and is closed, at its upper end, by a cross wall through which is entered a fiat handle bar 31, provided, at suitable points, with a plurality of adjusting holes 32, into any one of which may be entered the end 33 of a yoke shaped latch member 34, the opposite end 35 of which is enlarged and projected outwardly through the side wall of the plug to furnish a finger button, which may be pressed inwardly against the tension of a coil spring 36 to withdraw the end 33 of the yoke from engagement with the selected hole in the handle bar. The yoke shaped latch is entered and guided through the opposite wall of the plug, as best shown in Fig. 4%. The handle bar is provided with a cross handle 3'7, above which is a short post 38 which carries astrap buckle 39 similar to that ordinarily used on suspender straps, which strap buckle receives the end of a shoulder strap 4L0, the length of which may be adjusted and held in adjustable position by clamping down the strap buckles 39 on opposite sides of the exerciser.

In Fig. 1 the strap 40 is shown broken away, for the purposes of illustration, but it will be understood that the strap is continuous and in form to be passed over the shoulders and around the neck of the user. lVhere it is desired to increase the spring tension of the main side springs, by throwing certain of the coils out of commission, this result can be accomplished by the use of a split clamping block -11, through one side of which is entered a thumb screw 42. The block is provided with a hole l3 which surrounds certain coils of the springs, and by tightening the thumb screw the split block can be clamped onto certain of the coils, which will thus be held against distension, so that in expanding the spring to the desired length the expansion will be centered in the unclamped coils and the spring tension consequently increased. It will be understood that the clamping block is intended in a measure to take the place of the outer supplemental springs, and that when the clamping block is used such supplemental springs will be discarded.

The center spring 18, with. or without the supplemental springs, is closed at its upper end by a threaded plug as, to which is secured a handle yoke carrying a handle 46, which comprises a center portion 47 adapted to be grasped by a single hand, and two side extensions 48 outside of the yoke, both of which may be grasped by the hands of the user. The yoke terminates above the handle in arms 49 carrying strap buckles 50, through which are entered the ends of a strap 51, which is provided with a pair of slidable handles 52 adapted to be grasped by the hands of the user and moved to any position desired along the strap. These handles can also be applied to the strap 40 if desired.

It will be understood that the center spring 18 may be provided with an inner spring similar to those previously described, and secured at its ends in the same manner.

In use, where it is desired to employ the side springs, the center spring, with the parts attached thereto, will be removed, and may be either stored with the box platform or otherwise disposed of. The handle bars for the side springs will then be adjusted to the desired height to accommodate the stature of the user, which can readily be done by pressing the latch members 34 and bringing the desired holes 32 in the handle bars into position to be engaged by the ends of the latch members when released. Thereafter the ends of the shoulder strap can be adjusted as desired, and locked in adjusted position by clamping down the strap buckles. The user can then raise the springs by the grip of the hands on the handle 37, or by raising the body against the strap l0, or by combinations of such movements, depending upon the nature of the exercises desired.

In using the center spring. the side springs will be removed and the center spring substituted, after which exercises with one or both hands can be practiced. The user can also vary the nature of the exercises by grasping the sliding handles 52 on the strap 51 and thereby distending the spring with the handles in any desired position. By shifting the handles the action of the springs upon the arms of the user can be modified to a very considerable degree. The arrangement is one which permits the device as a whole to be readily taken apart and stored in the box, which also serves as the platform for the user, and this is of great importance in that there is no necessity for marring the floors or wood work of the house by inserting bolts or similar attaching means.

The device is adapted to serve in the capacity of a rowing machine, by tilting the platform up on the front edge to a substantial incline, and supporting the rear edge by means of detachable or adjustable posts 53 of any suitable character, to hold the platform elevated when desired, and adapted to be moved or stowed away when the platform is laid flat upon the floor. hen used as a rowing machine, the user can sit on a chair or stool and grasp the handles 37 in his hands, bracing his feet against the inclined platform, which serves the function of the cleatordinarily provided in the bottom of a row boat. By using the apparatus in this manner, substantially all of the beneficial exercise of rowing can be obtained.

I claim:

1. In a body exerciser, a main coil spring, a plug secured to each end of the main coil spring, hooks outwardly projecting from each of the plugs, and a supplemental spring on each side of the main coil spring, having its ends engaged by the hooks, substantially as described.

2. In a body exerciser, a main coil spring, a plug secured to each end of the main coil spring, hooks outwardly projecting from each of the plugs, a supplemental spring on each side of the main coil spring, having its ends engaged by the hooks, the plug at one end of the main coil spring being provided with a slot, a handle bar entered through said slot, a handle on the bar, and means for holding the handle bar in different positions of adjustment with respect to the upper plug, substantially as described.

3. In a body exerciser, a main coil spring, a plug entered into each end of the main coil spring, hooks outwardly projecting from each of the plugs, a supplemental spring on each side of the main coil spring, having its ends engaged by the hooks, the plug at one end of the main coil spring being provided with a slot, a handle bar entered through said slot, a handle on the bar, and a spring-actuated latch member adapted to engage and hold the handle bar in adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. In a body exerciser, the combination of a main coil spring, a plug secured to the upper end of the main coil spring and provided with hooks outwardly projecting therefrom, and supplemental springs, one on each side of the main coil spring, having its upper end engaged by one of the hooks, and means for securing the lower ends of the main and supplemental springs, substantially as described.

5. In a body exerciser, the combination of a main coil spring, a plug secured to the upper end of the main coil spring, a handle connected to the plug, an inner supplemental spring, having its upper end secured to the plug, and means for securing the lower ends of the springs, substantially as described.

6. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, a plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the spring, a handle bar attached to the plug, means for adjusting the handle bar with respect to the plug, and means for securing the lower end of the spring, substantially as described.

7. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, a plug adapted to be screwed into the upper end of the spring, a handle bar extending through the plug and having a plurality of holes therein, and a pin carried by the plug and serving to lock the handle bar and plug together, and adapted to be retracted to permit of adjustment of the handle with respect to the plug, substantially as described.

8. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, a plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the spring, a handle bar extending through the plug and having a plurality of holes therein, and a pin carried by the plug and serving to lock the handle bar and plug together, and adapted to be retracted to permit of adjustment of the handle with respect to the plug, substantially as described.

9. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, means for securing the lower end of the spring, a plug adapted to be screwed into the upper, end of the spring, a handle bar extending through the plug and having a plurality of holes therein, a U-shaped pin carried by the plug and having one end adapted to enter a selected hole in the handle bar, said pin serving to connect the handle bar and plug and adapted to be retracted to adjust the handle bar with respect to the plug, and a spring for normally maintaining the pin in locking position, substantially as described.

10. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, means for securing the lower end of the spring, a plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the spring, a handle bar extending through the plug and having a plurality of holes therein, a U-shaped pin carried by the plug and having one end adapted to enter a selected hole in the handle bar, said pin serving to connect the handle bar and plug and adapted to be retracted to adjust the handle bar with respect to the plug, and a spring for normally maintaining the pin in looking position, substantially as described.

11. In a body exerciser, the combination of a main coil spring, a supplemental coil spring within the main coil spring, a plug having one end of a reduced diameter, the enlarged end of the plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the-main coil spring, and the reduced end of the plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the supplemental coil spring, a handle bar attached to the plug, means for adjusting the handle bar with respect to the plug, and means for securing the lower end of each spring, substantially as described.

12. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, a plug adapted to be screwed into the upper end of the spring, a handle bar attached to the plug, and a plug screwed into the lower end of the spring and provided With means for anchoring the lower adapted to be secured to the spring for adend of said spring, substantially as dejusting the tension of the spring, substan- 1O scribed. tially as described.

13. In a body exerciser, the combination of a spring, a plug adapted to be secured to the upper end of the spring, a handle bar attached to the plug, means for anchoring the lower end of the spring, and a clamp JOSEPH SINGER.

-Witnesses FRANCES M. FROST, EPHRAIM BANNING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

